Singaporean humanitarian NGO, Mercy Relief, deployed its first response and assessment team to China today. The team will support local relief efforts for affected communities of the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Ludian county of Zhaotong city, Yunnan province.

In aid of its relief operations, a public fundraising appeal in Singapore has been launched.

Responding to a request for urgent assistance from the Poverty-Alleviation and Development Leading Group Office, an agency of the People’s Government of Ludian County, Mercy Relief will be disbursing an initial tranche of $30,000 for its relief operations. Procurement and distribution of emergency items such as food, medical supplies, and blankets will directly benefit an estimated 2,000 people. Official sources report the earthquake that jolted Yunnan Province in western China on 3rd August has so far claimed 589 lives, and injured 2,993. More than 1 million people are affected and about 230,000 people have been evacuated as a result of the damage caused to their homes.

“The number of displaced people is rapidly increasing. It is imperative we provide assistance to as many survivors as possible. Sufficient funding is crucial in ensuring that needed supplies can reach the zone of impact,” says Mercy Relief Chief Executive Goh Chin Siang.

From 2008 to 2013, Mercy Relief disbursed over $2 million in humanitarian aid in response to four earthquakes in China.

During the Sichuan province earthquake in 2013, Mercy Relief distributed $70,000 worth of food, blankets, medical supplies and hygiene kits. Mercy Relief teams also worked on improving the psychosocial well-being of the affected children through the provision of play packs.

About Mercy Relief

Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.